[Linux-aus] [Osia-discuss] Open Letter to the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia

[Kanchana Wickremasinghe]

Excellent stuff Donna,

Please let us know if there is any help required from the individual 
companies.

> This was just sent to the Deputy PM, Treasurer, Minister for finance and
> Senator Kate Lundy and was also CC'd to senior members of the Digital
> Education Revolution taskforce.
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Open Letter to Deputy Prime Minister calling for consideration of Free
> and Open Source Software in implementation of the Digital Education
> Revolution Policy for the National Secondary School Computer Fund.
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
> The Hon. Julia Gillard, MP 
> Deputy Prime Minister of Australia and Minister for Education 
>
> Dear Deputy Prime Minister Gillard, 
>
> As leaders in the ICT industry we're excited by the government's
> commitment toward making a revolutionary improvement in Australia’s
> education and training to world-leading standards. We're ready to "join
> the barricades" to assist in the interests of raising Australia's ICT
> capabilities in the global economy. 
>
> We urge you to consider the cost-saving implications of advocating the
> use of free and open source software in schools to further the aims of
> the digital education revolution and maximise the impact of this
> critical investment in the future. 
>
> Over the past two years we have seen a dramatic drop in price for basic
> computing hardware. Free and open source software represents a real
> opportunity for further cost savings, which would allow schools to use
> the $1000 per unit investment more flexibly and effectively. 
>
> Schools (and associated education authorities) concerned about the
> additional cost of ancillary services and infrastructure associated with
> the delivery of the National Secondary School Computer Fund should be
> encouraged to explore open source software. 
>
> Research consistently shows the total cost of ownership of free and open
> source software is equivalent, or lower, than for conventional
> proprietary applications. [*] 
>
> The time is right for schools to seriously adopt free and open source
> software and for the federal government to encourage a greater
> proportion of the $1000 to be made available for effective use of ICT
> and improved learning outcomes. 
>
> Please do not hesitate to contact Open Source Industry Australia or
> Linux Australia if you require more information about the use of free
> and open source software in Australia's education sector. 
>
> Yours faithfully,
>
>   Donna Benjamin - Education Spokesperson, Open Source Victoria.
>   Brendan Scott - Chairman, Open Source Industry Australia Limited.
>   Stewart Smith - President, Linux Australia.
>   Pia Waugh - Director, OLPC Australia.
>   Andrew Chalmers - President, Linux Users of Victoria.
>   Sridhar Dhanapalan - President, Sydney Linux User Group.
>   Max McLaren - General Manager, Red Hat Australia.
>   Karen Koomen - Government Affairs, IBM Australia.
>   Rusty Russell - Linux Kernel Developer.
>   Dr Andrew Tridgell - Samba Developer.
>
> * For references see http://www.linux.org.au/education/tco
>
> Sent by: 
> Donna Benjamin - donna at cc.com.au
> 03 9326 9985 / 0418 310 414
> 3-302 Abbotsford Street
> North Melbourne VIC 3051
>
>   


-- 
best regards,

Kanchana Wickremasinghe
Chief Architect

Fossmart Pty Limited
P.O. Box 5204
188 Algester Road
Algester
QLD 4115
Australia

w: http://www.fossmart.net
P: +61-430-145751
f: +61-3-9394-8129